Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-21
hoTTENTOr AND THERMOMETER.
A Blaci, barbarian Who Was Much Ex.
erci.et Over the Mercury In the Tube.

A Black barbarian Who Was Much Ex-
ercised Over the Mercury In the Tube.
NV boy Piet was not handsome. In
deed. to European ideas, his small eyes
set obliquely in his face; his wide and
fat nose with Its distorted nostrils, and
the bridge SO little elevated that the
space lwtwccn the check bones was al
most ila;: his protruding lips and long
and prominent but narrow and pointed
chin might appear positively ugly, not
withStandilg the ycrdlCts Of the various
Hottentot bclles with whom he was on
familiar terms. and who evidently re-
garoled him with approving eyes.
He WAS a pure Ho;tentot, of atype now
almost extinct; he was faithful; ;olcrably
honest, except in matters in which food,
drink or money Were concerned; less Of
a drunkar,l than most of lis compatriotS;
and liar Of but small capacity. He
was about Eve feet fOur inches i'll height
and of iaundiced yellow hue. His age
amounted to about l6 years i'll actual
time; but he appeared to - at least a
century old in wickcdnesS and dcpiavitv.
d kept a thermometer hung up on
a I'LL WHICH W tiS tEiNcH uito tnt Va tIit
ridge poles of tl:e tent, and the mercury
in the tube and bowl much exercised the
mind of Piet lie asked us frequently
what il WAS for. and evidently regarded
our explanations rs TO the use Of the in
sirument as mere subterfuGes designed TO
disguise the truth. asking:
What the use of such ting: S'rose
| see cloud dis side over dar. den me
know rain soon catch dis part, and make
plenty cold. S'rose You no able for tell
If day hot or cold without dem ting
The word mercury, too. he con-
elered 1t slang name we had invented TO
describe the metal in the bowl; and one
day. when b happened 10 refer 10 it
as .'quicksilver" in Piet's presence.
could see Il sudden glcam of intelligence
in the boy : eyes. and pleased express
sion on his flat Counienance, rs if he had
at last received corruhoratiye evidence of
n fact which he had long suspected.
Next day we came hack from the claim
somewhat earlier than was our custom
on account of the unusual heat, and
when D went, as usual. toward the
thermometer to see what the temperature
was. behold. no thermometer WAS there.
We. of course. suspected Piet at once.
and searched high and low for him. He
was nowhere near our tent. but after
some time we discovered him at little
distance. CrGuchcd down behind n heap
of stuff near sorting table. busily en-
gagged with something on the ground.
We approached HIM on tiptoe. and be-
held an amusing sight. Before him on
the ground lay the broken thermometer
and beside it. in the dust. was a glisten-
ing little silver clChuie Of III, rcurv.
PETS eyes were fastened upon this with
mingled expression of anazement and
fright. Every now and then he would
cautiously extend finger and thumb
and endeavor 10 pick up the mercury.
which naturally escaped him and rolled
10 one side. His action and expression
each time he found he had missed it
were so absurd that at last we could not
restrain our laughter; he at once heard
Us. looked round. and the next moment
was dancing about and making grimaces
at us 230 wards OF.
il was net until the pangs of hunger
compelled him, toward the evening. to
approach the tent that we caught him.
lie expressed contrition. hut seemed TO
think, at tie same time. that we had
played n shabby trick on him.
What for you tell me that silver live
in dem ting fur:" lie asked. WHY YOU
no say it witchcraft: and then left him.
That no good siiser-nut money silver"
All the Year Eouni.